The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — October 15 through December 7 — is your annual opportunity to make sure your Medicare coverage still fits your life. Plans change. Your health changes. Your medications change. Your doctors change. Staying in the same plan because it worked last year is a gamble, not a strategy.
Use this checklist to conduct a thorough annual review.
Part 1: Review Your Current Plan's Changes
- ☐ Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your carrier mails this in September/October. It details every change to your plan for the upcoming year.
- ☐ Note any premium changes (monthly plan premium + Part B premium).
- ☐ Check if your plan's deductible changed.
- ☐ Check if your plan's out-of-pocket maximum changed.
- ☐ Review any changes to the formulary — specifically, are your medications still covered and at the same tier?
- ☐ Check whether any of your providers have left the network.
- ☐ Review any changes to extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowances).
Part 2: Review Your Own Situation
- ☐ Have your medications changed this year? List any new prescriptions.
- ☐ Have you added or changed doctors or specialists?
- ☐ Has your health status changed in a way that might affect what coverage you need?
- ☐ Have you moved, or are you planning to move? Medicare Advantage plans are county-specific.
- ☐ Has your income changed significantly? If so, re-check IRMAA thresholds.
- ☐ Do you now qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid assistance you weren't eligible for before?
Part 3: Compare Alternatives
- ☐ Run your drug list through Medicare's Plan Finder (medicare.gov/plan-compare) for all available plans in your ZIP code.
- ☐ Verify your primary care doctor and key specialists are in-network for any plans you're considering.
- ☐ Verify your preferred pharmacy is in-network and check preferred vs. standard pharmacy pricing.
- ☐ Compare total estimated annual costs: premium × 12 + estimated drug costs + estimated medical costs.
- ☐ Consider the MOOP. What's your exposure if you have a serious health event?
- ☐ If you're considering switching between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, understand the Medigap underwriting implications in your state.
Part 4: Take Action Before December 7
- ☐ If staying with current plan: No action needed for Medicare Advantage or Part D — you're automatically re-enrolled.
- ☐ If switching plans: Enroll in the new plan during AEP. Your old plan coverage ends December 31.
- ☐ If switching from MA to Original Medicare: Contact your carrier to disenroll from your MA plan. Enroll in a Medigap plan if desired.
- ☐ Confirm enrollment changes have been processed. Request a confirmation.
Let Us Do This With You
This review takes time and expertise. Insurance Innovators LLC conducts annual reviews for Medicare beneficiaries across 38 states — at no charge. We'll pull your drug list, verify your doctors, and give you an honest recommendation. Call us at (530) 395-5309 before December 7.